WLAF
< NFL Europa
World League of American Football (WLAF) operated from 1991 to 1992 with teams split between Europe and North America (including Canada). After the 1992 season, the league went on hiatus before returning as a Europe‑only competition in 1995, a format it kept until folding after the 2007 NFL Europa season.
The Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks, who failed to win a game in 1991, were replaced by the Ohio Glory for the 1992 season. Following that year, the league suspended operations.
Teams
European Division
TEAMS |
SEASONS | STADIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
BARCELONA DRAGONS |
1991-1992 |
 Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic (BARCELONA, ES) (1991-1992) |
  |
FRANKFURT GALAXY |
1991-1992 |
 WALDSTADION (FRANKFURT, DE) (1991-1992) |
  |
LONDON MONARCHS(1) |
1991-1992 |
 WEMBLEY STADIUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) (1991-1992) |
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
| 1991 | |
LONDON MONARCHS |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 |  |
BARCELONA DRAGONS |
North American East Division
  |
MONTREAL MACHINE |
1991-1992 |
 (OLYMPIC STADIUM) (MONTREAL, CANADA) (1991-1992) |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS |
1991-1992 |  (GIANTS STADIUM) (E.RUTHERFORD, NJ) (1991-1992) |
  |
OHIO GLORY |
1992 |
 (OHIO STADIUM) (COLUMBUS, OH) (1992) |
  |
ORLANDO THUNDER |
1991-1992 |
 (CITRUS BOWL) (ORLANDO, FL) (1991-1992) |
TEAMS |
ONLY SEASON | STADIUM | |
  |
RALEIGH-DURHAM SKYHAWKS |
1991 |
 Carter-Finley Stadium (RALEIGH, NC) (1991) |
DIVISION HISTORY
| Years | Teams Added |
|---|---|
| 1991 | MONTREAL MACHINE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS ORLANDO THUNDER RALEIGH-DURHAM SKYHAWKS |
| 1992 | MONTREAL MACHINE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS ORLANDO THUNDER RALEIGH-DURHAM SKYHAWKS |
| RALEIGH-DURHAM SKYHAWKS > OHIO GLORY |
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
| SEASON | TEAM |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | |
NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS |
| 1992 | |
ORLANDO THUNDER |
North American West Division
TEAMS |
SEASONS | STADIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
BIRMINGHAM FIRE |
1991-1992 |
 LEGION FIELD (BIRMINGHAM, AL) (1991-1992) |
  |
SACRAMENTO SURGE(1) |
1991-1992 |  HORNET STADIUM (SACRAMENTO, CA) (1992) |
  |
SAN ANTONIO RIDERS |
1991-1992 |  BOBCAT STADIUM (SAN MARCOS, TX) (1991-1992) |
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
| SEASON | TEAM |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | |
BIRMINGHAM FIRE |
| 1992 | |
SACRAMENTO SURGE |
History
| Season | Team | Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The NFL establishes the World League of American Football (WLAF) as a spring developmental league. | ||
| 1991 | Barcelona Dragons Frankfurt Galaxy London Monarchs Montreal Machine New York/New Jersey Knights Orlando Thunder Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks Birmingham Fire Sacramento Surge San Antonio Riders |
Founding Members | The WLAF begins play with 10 teams across North America, Europe, and Canada. London Monarchs win the first World Bowl. |
| 1992 | Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks | Folded | Skyhawks are replaced by the Ohio Glory |
| - | Folded | The Sacramento Surge win World Bowl II. The league is suspended after the season for restructuring. |
Seasons
Following the 1992 WLAF season, the league went on hiatus before returning with the 1995 WLAF season.
1992 WLAF Season
Champion: Sacramento Surge
Runner-Up: Orlando Thunder
Playoff Teams: Sacramento, Orlando, Barcelona, Birmingham
Playoff Rounds: Semi-Finals • World Bowl II
Synopsis: The Surge captured their first title by defeating Orlando in World Bowl II. Raleigh–Durham were replaced by Ohio Glory, and the league suspended operations after the season.
1991 WLAF Season
Champion: London Monarchs
Runner-Up: Barcelona Dragons
Playoff Teams: London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Birmingham
Playoff Rounds: Semi-Finals • World Bowl I
Synopsis: The WLAF’s inaugural season featured teams across North America and Europe. London dominated the league and completed a standout year by shutting out Barcelona in World Bowl I.
Playoffs
These are the playoffs and World Bowl results for the original WLAF before its return with the 1995 WLAF season, in which the Division Champions plus a Wild Card team (with next best record) qualified for the Playoffs.
WLAF SEMI-FINALS
| SEASON | WINNER | SCORE | LOSER |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | BARCELONA DRAGONS |
10 VS 3 | BIRMINGHAM FIRE |
LONDON MONARCHS |
42 @ 26 | NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS |
|
| 1992 | ORLANDO THUNDER |
45 @ 7 | BIRMINGHAM FIRE |
|
17 VS 15 | BARCELONA DRAGONS |
World Bowl Results (1991-1992)
Complete World Bowl results can be found here.
| SEASON | WINNER | SCORE | LOSER | STADIUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| '91 1991  |
LONDON MONARCHS (1) |
21-0 | BARCELONA DRAGONS |
Wembley Stadium(1) London,UK(1) |
| '92 1992  |
SACRAMENTO SURGE (1) |
21-17 | ORLANDO THUNDER |
Olympic Stadium(1) MONTREAL,CA(1) |